St. Petersburg Gives Preliminary Approval for Wage Theft Ordinance

St. Petersburg, FL—Workers are beginning to receive more wage theft protections against employers across the U.S. St. Petersburg is the latest city to adopt its own wage theft- law after giving preliminary approval to a new wage theft ordinance, reports California wage and hour lawyer Eric Grover of the Keller Grover law firm.

St. Petersburg’s ordinance will put a process in place that mandates if an employer is found in violation by failing to pay a worker in 14 days or less after the work is performed, it would be required to pay the affected employee three times the amount of wages owed plus administrative fees to the city.

Wage theft violations include failing to be compensated with minimum and overtime wages, working off the clock, unreimbursed expenses, employment misclassification, failing to keep accurate time-keeping records and failing to be compensated for work performed.

Under the ordinance, workers are required to be compensated no more than 14 days after work is performed. Workers affected by wage theft have one year to file a complaint and they must be owed at least $60.

“Wage theft will only end when other cities and counties join in the fight by giving workers outlets to make claims and empowering them to step forward when they’ve been affected,” says Grover. “The St. Petersburg ordinance sets an example for other cities on how to help combat wage theft in their hometowns (http://www.cawagehourlaw.com/new-wage-and-hour-law_3.html).”

The California attorneys at the Los Angeles wage and hour law firm of Keller Grover have been helping victims of wage theft recover lost wages since 2005. To learn more about wage laws and whether you’ve been a victim contact, Keller Grover at 888.601. 6939.